MEMS device fabricated on a pre-patterned substrate

ABSTRACT

A microelectromechanical systems device fabricated on a pre-patterned substrate having grooves formed therein. A lower electrode is deposited over the substrate and separated by an orthogonal upper electrode by a cavity. The upper electrode is configured to be movable to modulate light.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,220, filed Jul. 1, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/613,376, filed Sep. 27, 2004. The disclosures of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The field of the invention relates to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and the packaging of such systems. More specifically, the field of the invention relates to interferometric modulators and methods of fabricating such interferometric modulators on a pre-patterned substrate.

2. Description of the Related Technology

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) include micro mechanical elements, actuators, and electronics. Micromechanical elements may be created using deposition, etching, and or other micromachining processes that etch away parts of substrates and/or deposited material layers or that add layers to form electrical and electromechanical devices. One type of MEMS device is called an interferometric modulator. As used herein, the term interferometric modulator or interferometric light modulator refers to a device that selectively absorbs and/or reflects light using the principles of optical interference. In certain embodiments, an interferometric modulator may comprise a pair of conductive plates, one or both of which may be transparent and/or reflective in whole or part and capable of relative motion upon application of an appropriate electrical signal. In a particular embodiment, one plate may comprise a stationary layer deposited on a substrate and the other plate may comprise a metallic membrane separated from the stationary layer by an air gap or cavity. As described herein in more detail, the position of one plate in relation to another can change the optical interference of light incident on the interferometric modulator. Such devices have a wide range of applications, and it would be beneficial in the art to utilize and/or modify the characteristics of these types of devices so that their features can be exploited in improving existing products and creating new products that have not yet been developed.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The system, method, and devices of the invention each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of Certain Embodiments” one will understand how the features of this invention provide advantages over other display devices. The embodiments described herein provide a package structure and a method of manufacturing a package structure in ambient conditions.

An embodiment provides a method of making a microelectromechanical systems device. A substrate having a plurality of trenches is provided. At least one layer is deposited over the substrate, wherein the layer is discontinuous at the trenches. A first cavity is created between a first electrode formed over the substrate and a second electrode, wherein the at least one layer comprises the first electrode.

According to another embodiment, a display device is provided, comprising a substrate having a plurality of grooves formed therein, a first electrode formed over a top surface of the substrate and a second electrode, a semi-reflective layer, and a transparent material formed over the chromium layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are insulated from each other and separated by a first cavity. The semi-reflective layer separated from the second electrode by a second cavity.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of forming a microelectromechanical systems device is provided. A substrate having a top surface is provided, wherein a plurality of grooves is formed in the top surface. At least one layer is deposited over the substrate, wherein the at least one layer comprises a first conductive material and is discontinuous at the grooves forming rows of the layer on the top surface. A second conductive material is deposited, wherein the second conductive material is oriented orthogonally to the first conductive material on the top surface.

In accordance with another embodiment, a display device is provided. The display device comprises a substrate having a plurality of grooves formed therein, a first reflecting means for reflecting light formed over a top surface of the substrate and a second reflecting means for reflecting light, a semi-reflective layer separated from the second reflecting means by a second cavity, and a viewing means for transmitting light. The first reflecting means and the second reflecting means are insulated from each other and separated by a first cavity, and the viewing means formed over the semi-reflective layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and from the appended drawings (not to scale), which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view depicting a portion of one embodiment of an interferometric modulator display in which a movable reflective layer of a first interferometric modulator is in a relaxed position and a movable reflective layer of a second interferometric modulator is in an actuated position.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an electronic device incorporating a 3×3 interferometric modulator display.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of movable mirror position versus applied voltage for one exemplary embodiment of an interferometric modulator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a set of row and column voltages that may be used to drive an interferometric modulator display.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate one exemplary timing diagram for row and column signals that may be used to write a frame of display data to the 3×3 interferometric modulator display of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are system block diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a visual display device comprising a plurality of interferometric modulators.

FIG. 7A is a cross section of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7B is a cross section of an alternative embodiment of an interferometric modulator.

FIG. 7C is a cross section of another alternative embodiment of an interferometric modulator.

FIG. 7D is a cross section of yet another alternative embodiment of an interferometric modulator.

FIG. 7E is a cross section of an additional alternative embodiment of an interferometric modulator.

FIGS. 8A-8C are cross-sections of an interferometric modulator formed o n a pre-patterned substrate, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8D is a cross-section of an interferometric modulator formed on a pre-patterned substrate, in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 8E is a cross-section of an interferometric modulator formed on a pre-patterned substrate, in accordance with yet another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout. As will be apparent from the following description, the embodiments may be implemented in any device that is configured to display an image, whether in motion (e.g., video) or stationary (e.g., still image), and whether textual or pictorial. More particularly, it is contemplated that the embodiments may be implemented in or associated with a variety of electronic devices such as, but not limited to, mobile telephones, wireless devices, personal data assistants (PDAs), hand-held or portable computers, GPS receivers/navigators, cameras, MP3 players, camcorders, game consoles, wrist watches, clocks, calculators, television monitors, flat panel displays, computer monitors, auto displays (e.g., odometer display, etc.), cockpit controls and/or displays, display of camera views (e.g., display of a rear view camera in a vehicle), electronic photographs, electronic billboards or signs, projectors, architectural structures, packaging, and aesthetic structures (e.g., display of images on a piece of jewelry). MEMS devices of similar structure to those described herein can also be used in non-display applications such as in electronic switching devices.

One interferometric modulator display embodiment comprising an interferometric MEMS display element is illustrated in FIG. 1. In these devices, the pixels are in either a bright or dark state. In the bright (“on” or “open”) state, the display element reflects a large portion of incident visible light to a user. When in the dark (“off” or “closed”) state, the display element reflects little incident visible light to the user. Depending on the embodiment, the light reflectance properties of the “on” and “off” states may be reversed. MEMS pixels can be configured to reflect predominantly at selected colors, allowing for a color display in addition to black and white.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view depicting two adjacent pixels in a series of pixels of a visual display, wherein each pixel comprises a MEMS interferometric modulator. In some embodiments, an interferometric modulator display comprises a row/column array of these interferometric modulators. Each interferometric modulator includes a pair of reflective layers positioned at a variable and controllable distance from each other to form a resonant optical cavity with at least one variable dimension. In one embodiment, one of the reflective layers may be moved between two positions. In the first position, referred to herein as the relaxed position, the movable reflective layer is positioned at a relatively large distance from a fixed partially reflective layer. In the second position, referred to herein as the actuated position, the movable reflective layer is positioned more closely adjacent to the partially reflective layer. Incident light that reflects from the two layers interferes constructively or destructively depending on the position of the movable reflective layer, producing either an overall reflective or non-reflective state for each pixel.

The depicted portion of the pixel array in FIG. 1 includes two adjacent interferometric modulators 12 a and 12 b. In the interferometric modulator 12 a on the left, a movable reflective layer 14 a is illustrated in a relaxed position at a predetermined distance from an optical stack 16 a, which includes a partially reflective layer. In the interferometric modulator 12 b on the right, the movable reflective layer 14 b is illustrated in an actuated position adjacent to the optical stack 16 b.

The optical stacks 16 a and 16 b (collectively referred to as optical stack 16), as referenced herein, typically comprise of several fused layers, which can include an electrode layer, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), a partially reflective layer, such as chromium, and a transparent dielectric. The optical stack 16 is thus electrically conductive, partially transparent and partially reflective, and may be fabricated, for example, by depositing one or more of the above layers onto a transparent substrate 20. In some embodiments, the layers are patterned into parallel strips, and may form row electrodes in a display device as described further below. The movable reflective layers 14 a, 14 b may be formed as a series of parallel strips of a deposited metal layer or layers (orthogonal to the row electrodes of 16 a, 16 b) deposited on top of posts 18 and an intervening sacrificial material deposited between the posts 18. When the sacrificial material is etched away, the movable reflective layers 14 a, 14 b are separated from the optical stacks 16 a, 16 b by a defined gap 19. A highly conductive and reflective material such as aluminum may be used for the reflective layers 14, and these strips may form column electrodes in a display device.

With no applied voltage, the cavity 19 remains between the movable reflective layer 14 a and optical stack 16 a, with the movable reflective layer 14 a in a mechanically relaxed state, as illustrated by the pixel 12 a in FIG. 1. However, when a potential difference is applied to a selected row and column, the capacitor formed at the intersection of the row and column electrodes at the corresponding pixel becomes charged, and electrostatic forces pull the electrodes together. If the voltage is high enough, the movable reflective layer 14 is deformed and is forced against the optical stack 16. A dielectric layer (not illustrated in this Figure) within the optical stack 16 may prevent shorting and control the separation distance between layers 14 and 16, as illustrated by pixel 12 b on the right in FIG. 1. The behavior is the same regardless of the polarity of the applied potential difference. In this way, row/column actuation that can control the reflective vs. non-reflective pixel states is analogous in many ways to that used in conventional LCD and other display technologies.

FIGS. 2 through 5 illustrate one exemplary process and system for using an array of interferometric modulators in a display application.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an electronic device that may incorporate aspects of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the electronic device includes a processor 21 which may be any general purpose single- or multi-chip microprocessor such as an ARM, Pentium®, Pentium II®, Pentium III®, Pentium IV®, Pentium® Pro, an 8051, a MIPS®, a Power PC®, an ALPHA®, or any special purpose microprocessor such as a digital signal processor, microcontroller, or a programmable gate array. As is conventional in the art, the processor 21 may be configured to execute one or more software modules. In addition to executing an operating system, the processor may be configured to execute one or more software applications, including a web browser, a telephone application, an email program, or any other software application.

In one embodiment, the processor 21 is also configured to communicate with an array driver 22. In one embodiment, the array driver 22 includes a row driver circuit 24 and a column driver circuit 26 that provide signals to a display array or panel 30. The cross section of the array illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown by the lines 1-1 in FIG. 2. For MEMS interferometric modulators, the row/column actuation protocol may take advantage of a hysteresis property of these devices illustrated in FIG. 3. It may require, for example, a 10 volt potential difference to cause a movable layer to deform from the relaxed state to the actuated state. However, when the voltage is reduced from that value, the movable layer maintains its state as the voltage drops back below 10 volts. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the movable layer does not relax completely until the voltage drops below 2 volts. There is thus a range of voltage, about 3 to 7 V in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, where there exists a window of applied voltage within which the device is stable in either the relaxed or actuated state. This is referred to herein as the “hysteresis window” or “stability window.” For a display array having the hysteresis characteristics of FIG. 3, the row/column actuation protocol can be designed such that during row strobing, pixels in the strobed row that are to be actuated are exposed to a voltage difference of about 10 volts, and pixels that are to be relaxed are exposed to a voltage difference of close to zero volts. After the strobe, the pixels are exposed to a steady state voltage difference of about 5 volts such that they remain in whatever state the row strobe put them in. After being written, each pixel sees a potential difference within the “stability window” of 3-7 volts in this example. This feature makes the pixel design illustrated in FIG. 1 stable under the same applied voltage conditions in either an actuated or relaxed pre-existing state. Since each pixel of the interferometric modulator, whether in the actuated or relaxed state, is essentially a capacitor formed by the fixed and moving reflective layers, this stable state can be held at a voltage within the hysteresis window with almost no power dissipation. Essentially no current flows into the pixel if the applied potential is fixed.

In typical applications, a display frame may be created by asserting the set of column electrodes in accordance with the desired set of actuated pixels in the first row. A row pulse is then applied to the row 1 electrode, actuating the pixels corresponding to the asserted column lines. The asserted set of column electrodes is then changed to correspond to the desired set of actuated pixels in the second row. A pulse is then applied to the row 2 electrode, actuating the appropriate pixels in row 2 in accordance with the asserted column electrodes. The row 1 pixels are unaffected by the row 2 pulse, and remain in the state they were set to during the row 1 pulse. This may be repeated for the entire series of rows in a sequential fashion to produce the frame. Generally, the frames are refreshed and/or updated with new display data by continually repeating this process at some desired number of frames per second. A wide variety of protocols for driving row and column electrodes of pixel arrays to produce display frames are also well known and may be used in conjunction with the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate one possible actuation protocol for creating a display frame on the 3×3 array of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates a possible set of column and row voltage levels that may be used for pixels exhibiting the hysteresis curves of FIG. 3. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, actuating a pixel involves setting the appropriate column to −V_(bias), and the appropriate row to +ΔV, which may correspond to −5 volts and +5 volts respectively Relaxing the pixel is accomplished by setting the appropriate column to +V_(bias), and the appropriate row to the same +ΔV, producing a zero volt potential difference across the pixel. In those rows where the row voltage is held at zero volts, the pixels are stable in whatever state they were originally in, regardless of whether the column is at +V_(bias), or −V_(bias). As is also illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that voltages of opposite polarity than those described above can be used, e.g., actuating a pixel can involve setting the appropriate column to +V_(bias), and the appropriate row to −ΔV. In this embodiment, releasing the pixel is accomplished by setting the appropriate column to −V_(bias), and the appropriate row to the same −ΔV, producing a zero volt potential difference across the pixel. As is also illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that voltages of opposite polarity than those described above can be used, e.g., actuating a pixel can involve setting the appropriate column to +V_(bias), and the appropriate row to −ΔV. In this embodiment, releasing the pixel is accomplished by setting the appropriate column to −V_(bias), and the appropriate row to the same −ΔV, producing a zero volt potential difference across the pixel.

FIG. 5B is a timing diagram showing a series of row and column signals applied to the 3×3 array of FIG. 2 which will result in the display arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5A, where actuated pixels are non-reflective. Prior to writing the frame illustrated in FIG. 5A, the pixels can be in any state, and in this example, all the rows are at 0 volts, and all the columns are at +5 volts. With these applied voltages, all pixels are stable in their existing actuated or relaxed states.

In the FIG. 5A frame, pixels (1,1), (1,2), (2,2), (3,2) and (3,3) are actuated. To accomplish this, during a “line time” for row 1, columns 1 and 2 are set to −5 volts, and column 3 is set to +5 volts. This does not change the state of any pixels, because all the pixels remain in the 3-7 volt stability window. Row 1 is then strobed with a pulse that goes from 0, up to 5 volts, and back to zero. This actuates the (1,1) and (1,2) pixels and relaxes the (1,3) pixel. No other pixels in the array are affected. To set row 2 as desired, column 2 is set to −5 volts, and columns 1 and 3 are set to +5 volts. The same strobe applied to row 2 will then actuate pixel (2,2) and relax pixels (2,1) and (2,3). Again, no other pixels of the array are affected. Row 3 is similarly set by setting columns 2 and 3 to −5 volts, and column 1 to +5 volts. The row 3 strobe sets the row 3 pixels as shown in FIG. 5A. After writing the frame, the row potentials are zero, and the column potentials can remain at either +5 or −5 volts, and the display is then stable in the arrangement of FIG. 5A. It will be appreciated that the same procedure can be employed for arrays of dozens or hundreds of rows and columns. It will also be appreciated that the timing, sequence, and levels of voltages used to perform row and column actuation can be varied widely within the general principles outlined above, and the above example is exemplary only, and any actuation voltage method can be used with the systems and methods described herein.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are system block diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a display device 40. The display device 40 can be, for example, a cellular or mobile telephone. However, the same components of display device 40 or slight variations thereof are also illustrative of various types of display devices such as televisions and portable media players.

The display device 40 includes a housing 41, a display 30, an antenna 43, a speaker 44, an input device 48, and a microphone 46. The housing 41 is generally formed from any of a variety of manufacturing processes as are well known to those of skill in the art, including injection molding, and vacuum forming. In addition, the housing 41 may be made from any of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic, metal, glass, rubber, and ceramic, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment the housing 41 includes removable portions (not shown) that may be interchanged with other removable portions of different color, or containing different logos, pictures, or symbols.

The display 30 of exemplary display device 40 may be any of a variety of displays, including a bi-stable display, as described herein. In other embodiments, the display 30 includes a flat-panel display, such as plasma, EL, OLED, STN LCD, or TFT LCD as described above, or a non-flat-panel display, such as a CRT or other tube device, as is well known to those of skill in the art. However, for purposes of describing the present embodiment, the display 30 includes an interferometric modulator display, as described herein.

The components of one embodiment of exemplary display device 40 are schematically illustrated in FIG. 6B. The illustrated exemplary display device 40 includes a housing 41 and can include additional components at least partially enclosed therein. For example, in one embodiment, the exemplary display device 40 includes a network interface 27 that includes an antenna 43 which is coupled to a transceiver 47. The transceiver 47 is connected to a processor 21, which is connected to conditioning hardware 52. The conditioning hardware 52 may be configured to condition a signal (e.g. filter a signal). The conditioning hardware 52 is connected to a speaker 45 and a microphone 46. The processor 21 is also connected to an input device 48 and a driver controller 29. The driver controller 29 is coupled to a frame buffer 28, and to an array driver 22, which in turn is coupled to a display array 30. A power supply 50 provides power to all components as required by the particular exemplary display device 40 design.

The network interface 27 includes the antenna 43 and the transceiver 47 so that the exemplary display device 40 can communicate with one ore more devices over a network. In one embodiment the network interface 27 may also have some processing capabilities to relieve requirements of the processor 21. The antenna 43 is any antenna known to those of skill in the art for transmitting and receiving signals. In one embodiment, the antenna transmits and receives RF signals according to the IEEE 802.11 standard, including IEEE 802.11(a), (b), or (g). In another embodiment, the antenna transmits and receives RF signals according to the BLUETOOTH standard. In the case of a cellular telephone, the antenna is designed to receive CDMA, GSM, AMPS or other known signals that are used to communicate within a wireless cell phone network. The transceiver 47 pre-processes the signals received from the antenna 43 so that they may be received by and further manipulated by the processor 21. The transceiver 47 also processes signals received from the processor 21 so that they may be transmitted from the exemplary display device 40 via the antenna 43.

In an alternative embodiment, the transceiver 47 can be replaced by a receiver. In yet another alternative embodiment, network interface 27 can be replaced by an image source, which can store or generate image data to be sent to the processor 21. For example, the image source can be a digital video disc (DVD) or a hard-disc drive that contains image data, or a software module that generates image data.

Processor 21 generally controls the overall operation of the exemplary display device 40. The processor 21 receives data, such as compressed image data from the network interface 27 or an image source, and processes the data into raw image data or into a format that is readily processed into raw image data. The processor 21 then sends the processed data to the driver controller 29 or to frame buffer 28 for storage. Raw data typically refers to the information that identifies the image characteristics at each location within an image. For example, such image characteristics can include color, saturation, and gray-scale level.

In one embodiment, the processor 21 includes a microcontroller, CPU, or logic unit to control operation of the exemplary display device 40. Conditioning hardware 52 generally includes amplifiers and filters for transmitting signals to the speaker 45, and for receiving signals from the microphone 46. Conditioning hardware 52 may be discrete components within the exemplary display device 40, or may be incorporated within the processor 21 or other components.

The driver controller 29 takes the raw image data generated by the processor 21 either directly from the processor 21 or from the frame buffer 28 and reformats the raw image data appropriately for high speed transmission to the array driver 22. Specifically, the driver controller 29 reformats the raw image data into a data flow having a raster-like format, such that it has a time order suitable for scanning across the display array 30. Then the driver controller 29 sends the formatted information to the array driver 22. Although a driver controller 29, such as a LCD controller, is often associated with the system processor 21 as a stand-alone Integrated Circuit (IC), such controllers may be implemented in many ways. They may be embedded in the processor 21 as hardware, embedded in the processor 21 as software, or fully integrated in hardware with the array driver 22.

Typically, the array driver 22 receives the formatted information from the driver controller 29 and reformats the video data into a parallel set of waveforms that are applied many times per second to the hundreds and sometimes thousands of leads coming from the display's x-y matrix of pixels.

In one embodiment, the driver controller 29, array driver 22, and display array 30 are appropriate for any of the types of displays described herein. For example, in one embodiment, driver controller 29 is a conventional display controller or a bi-stable display controller (e.g., an interferometric modulator controller). In another embodiment, array driver 22 is a conventional driver or a bi-stable display driver (e.g., an interferometric modulator display). In one embodiment, a driver controller 29 is integrated with the array driver 22. Such an embodiment is common in highly integrated systems such as cellular phones, watches, and other small area displays. In yet another embodiment, display array 30 is a typical display array or a bi-stable display array (e.g., a display including an array of interferometric modulators).

The input device 48 allows a user to control the operation of the exemplary display device 40. In one embodiment, input device 48 includes a keypad, such as a QWERTY keyboard or a telephone keypad, a button, a switch, a touch-sensitive screen, a pressure- or heat-sensitive membrane. In one embodiment, the microphone 46 is an input device for the exemplary display device 40. When the microphone 46 is used to input data to the device, voice commands may be provided by a user for controlling operations of the exemplary display device 40.

Power supply 50 can include a variety of energy storage devices as are well known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, power supply 50 is a rechargeable battery, such as a nickel-cadmium battery or a lithium ion battery. In another embodiment, power supply 50 is a renewable energy source, a capacitor, or a solar cell, including a plastic solar cell, and solar-cell paint. In another embodiment, power supply 50 is configured to receive power from a wall outlet.

In some implementations control programmability resides, as described above, in a driver controller which can be located in several places in the electronic display system. In some cases control programmability resides in the array driver 22. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the above-described optimization may be implemented in any number of hardware and/or software components and in various configurations.

The details of the structure of interferometric modulators that operate in accordance with the principles set forth above may vary widely. For example, FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate five different embodiments of the movable reflective layer 14 and its supporting structures. FIG. 7A is a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1, where a strip of metal material 14 is deposited on orthogonally extending supports 18. In FIG. 7B, the moveable reflective layer 14 is attached to supports at the corners only, on tethers 32. In FIG. 7C, the moveable reflective layer 14 is suspended from a deformable layer 34, which may comprise a flexible metal. The deformable layer 34 connects, directly or indirectly, to the substrate 20 around the perimeter of the deformable layer 34. These connections are herein referred to as support posts. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7D has support post plugs 42 upon which the deformable layer 34 rests. The movable reflective layer 14 remains suspended over the cavity, as in FIGS. 7A-7C, but the deformable layer 34 does not form the support posts by filling holes between the deformable layer 34 and the optical stack 16. Rather, the support posts are formed of a planarization material, which is used to form support post plugs 42. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7E is based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 7D, but may also be adapted to work with any of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7C as well as additional embodiments not shown. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7E, an extra layer of metal or other conductive material has been used to form a bus structure 44. This allows signal routing along the back of the interferometric modulators, eliminating a number of electrodes that may otherwise have had to be formed on the substrate 20.

In embodiments such as those shown in FIG. 7, the interferometric modulators function as direct-view devices, in which images are viewed from the front side of the transparent substrate 20, the side opposite to that upon which the modulator is arranged. In these embodiments, the reflective layer 14 optically shields the portions of the interferometric modulator on the side of the reflective layer opposite the substrate 20, including the deformable layer 34. This allows the shielded areas to be configured and operated upon without negatively affecting the image quality. Such shielding allows the bus structure 44 in FIG. 7E, which provides the ability to separate the optical properties of the modulator from the electromechanical properties of the modulator, such as addressing and the movements that result from that addressing. This separable modulator architecture allows the structural design and materials used for the electromechanical aspects and the optical aspects of the modulator to be selected and to function independently of each other. Moreover, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7C-7E have additional benefits deriving from the decoupling of the optical properties of the reflective layer 14 from its mechanical properties, which are carried out by the deformable layer 34. This allows the structural design and materials used for the reflective layer 14 to be optimized with respect to the optical properties, and the structural design and materials used for the deformable layer 34 to be optimized with respect to desired mechanical properties.

As discussed above, the interferometric modulator is configured to reflect light through the transparent substrate and includes moving parts, such as the movable mirrors 14 a, 14 b. Therefore, to allow such moving parts to move, a gap or cavity is preferably created to allow the mechanical parts, such as the movable mirrors 14 a, 14 b, of the interferometric modulator to move.

FIGS. 8A-8C are cross-sectional views of an interferometric modulator formed on a pre-patterned substrate, in accordance with an embodiment. It has been found that the steps involved in producing interferometric modulators that function as described above are adaptable to very cost effective production techniques when a pre-patterned substrate is used. FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate one embodiment of such a method, which results in an interferometric modulator that is viewed from the opposite side as the interferometric modulator described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7E. Depending on the final application of the device, it will sometimes be preferable to produce a display viewed through the substrate, and sometimes preferable to produce a display viewed through the deposited layers of the interferometric modulator. Thus, with such a design, it is not necessary to use a transparent substrate (such as transparent substrate 20, shown in FIGS. 7A-7E) on which to form the interferometric modulator. The pre-patterned substrate may therefore be either opaque or transparent. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the pre-patterned substrate is preferably non-transparent, which allows for a selection of materials that are conducive to embossing.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, an interferometric modulator is formed on a pre-patterned substrate 505. A substrate 505 having trenches 507 formed therein is preferably covered with a mirror layer to form a lower electrode (a semi-reflecting or reflecting means) 502, which will serve as the fixed layer described above.

The substrate 505 may be formed from a preferably non-transparent polymer material having a series of embossed, appropriately spaced grooves or trenches 507 running in one direction along the substrate surface. These grooves 507 may be embossed using known techniques in a variety of conventional materials to preferably have a reentrant profile with tapering sides, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C. In a preferred embodiment, a substrate 505 formed of a composite material is embossed, stamped, ablated, molded, or mechanically imprinted with trenches or grooves, and subsequently baked to obtain the reentrant profile. The skilled artisan will appreciate that such a composite material is preferably formed of different materials in different layers and that after stamping or embossing the substrate, baking causes differential thermal expansion in the different layers. In the illustrated embodiment, the top layer(s) have a higher coefficient of thermal expansion, thereby causing expansion into the grooves 507. Although the reentrant profile is preferred, the skilled artisan will appreciate that the grooves 507 may have other shapes (e.g., vertical walls) so long as the grooves cause a break in material deposited over the top surface of the substrate 505, as discussed in more detail below. It will be understood that the grooves 507 may be formed in the substrate 505 by techniques other than embossing, such as, for example, etching. However, embossing or stamping is preferred as it is an inexpensive process.

When material is deposited on such a surface structure, some material will be deposited and settle into the grooves 507, and some material will be deposited and settle on the top surface of the substrate 505 between the grooves 507. The material is preferably deposited by conventional deposition techniques, such as some form of sputtering, physical vapor deposition, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). As shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the presence of the grooves 507 produces breaks or discontinuities in the deposited layers on the top surface of the substrate 505. In this way, the lower layers 502, 508, 510 of the interferometric modulator structure are deposited without the conventional photolithography and etching steps. In this embodiment, effectively, the first set of masks that produces the structure of FIGS. 7A-7E is incorporated into the substrate 505 itself, and conventional masking can, in fact, be replaced by economical embossing processes for the initial electrode pattern. According to this embodiment, the first steps of interferometric modulator structure fabrication are thus depositing the lower electrode 502, a dielectric material 508, and a layer of sacrificial material 510. The layers of the deposited lower electrode 502, dielectric material 508, and sacrificial material 510 are thus formed in rows or strips on the top surface of the substrate 505. The strip structure is produced naturally by the presence of the embossed grooves 507.

The lower electrode 502 is preferably formed of aluminum. In other embodiments, the lower electrode 502 may comprise other highly reflective metals, such as, for example, silver (Ag) or gold (Au). Alternatively, the lower electrode 502 may be a stack of metals configured to give the proper optical and mechanical properties.

A dielectric layer 508 is preferably deposited over the lower electrode 502. In a preferred embodiment, the dielectric material is silicon dioxide (SiO₂). A sacrificial layer 510 is preferably deposited (and later removed) over the structure to create a resonant optical cavity between the lower electrode 502 and an upper electrode or reflecting means 506 that will be deposited over the sacrificial layer 510 to form the movable layer, as shown in FIG. 8B. In the illustrated embodiment, the sacrificial layer 510 comprises silicon (Si). In other embodiments, this sacrificial layer 510 may be formed of molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), or titanium (Ti). All of these sacrificial materials can be selectively etched, relative to the exposed dielectric and electrode materials, but the skilled artisan will readily appreciate that other sacrificial materials (e.g., photoresist) can be used with other selective etch chemistries.

As shown in FIG. 8B, in this embodiment, interferometric modulator structure production is continued by filling the trenches 507 and the regions between the previously deposited structures. This filling can be done with many conventional deposition/pattern/etch steps or with an etch back process, such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) planarization step, for example.

Orthogonal upper electrode strips 506 are preferably deposited over the sacrificial layer 510, followed by strips of a second or upper sacrificial material 520 separated by posts 522. This upper electrode 506 is deposited as strips in rows orthogonal to the lower electrode 502 rows to create the row/column array described above. The upper electrode 506 and sacrificial material 520 may be deposited as strips in their desired patterns, preferably using a shadow mask deposition technique. The posts 522 are formed of insulating materials, preferably a polymer or dielectric material.

A thin, preferably 50-100 angstrom, semi-reflective layer 530 is then preferably deposited over the upper sacrificial layer 520. In a preferred embodiment, the semi-reflective layer 530 is chromium. As shown in FIG. 8B, a transparent material or viewing means 535 is deposited over the semi-reflective layer 530 to provide additional mechanical and structural integrity to the semi-reflective layer 530, which is typically too thin to support itself after removal of the sacrificial layers 510, 520. The skilled artisan will understand that the transparent substrate 535 serves a mechanical function as well as a means through which display takes place and through which light is transmitted. The transparent substrate 535 may be formed of a solid inorganic material, such as an oxide. In another embodiment, the transparent substrate 535 may be formed of a transparent polymer. The semi-reflective layer 530 and the transparent substrate are preferably deposited by conventional deposition techniques, such as sputtering, PVD, and CVD.

The transparent material 535 and semi-reflective layer 530 are preferably etched with openings or holes (not shown) so that the etch gas used for sacrificial layer removal can reach the sacrificial material of layers 510 and 520. Alternatively, the transparent material 535 may be pre-patterned with openings or holes that are pre-etched or embossed. It will be understood that, as part of the overall packaging process, the interferometric modulators are sealed and protected from the environment surrounding the package containing the interferometric modulators. Preferably, the holes or openings have a diameter as small as the photolithographic system will permit, and more preferably about 2.4 microns. The skilled artisan will understand that the size, spacing, and number of openings will affect the rate of removal of the sacrificial layers 510, 520.

The sacrificial layers 510, 520 are removed, preferably using a selective gas etching process, to create the optical cavity around the movable electrode 506. Standard etching techniques may be used to remove the sacrificial layers 510, 520. The particular gas etching process will depend on the material to be removed. For example, xenon diflouride (XeF₂) may be used as the release gas for removing a silicon sacrificial layer. It will be understood that the etching process is a selective etching process that does not etch any dielectric, semi-reflecting, or electrode materials.

The final structure of the interferometric modulator is shown in FIG. 8C, where there is an optical cavity surrounding the moving electrode 506. Because the semi-reflective layer 530 is on top, the interferometric modulator is viewed through the transparent substrate 535 from the side of the deposited layers in the direction of arrow 540, as shown in FIG. 8C.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A-8C, it will be understood that the movable layer 506 of the interferometric modulator is adjacent the transparent substrate 535 and the fixed layer 502 is formed below the movable layer 506 such that the movable layer 506 may move within the optical cavity of the structure, as shown in FIG. 8C.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8D, the semi-reflective layer 530 is preferably chromium and can be supplemented with a transparent electrode, preferably an ITO layer, and used as an electrode. As shown in FIG. 8D, the ITO layer 532 is between the transparent substrate 535 and the chromium layer 530. This ITO-chromium bilayer structure eliminates the need for the lower electrode 502 and dielectric 508 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-8C. In this embodiment, a dielectric layer 508 is between the chromium 530 and the upper cavity. The skilled artisan will appreciate that a first sacrificial layer (not shown) is deposited on the pre-patterned transparent substrate 505 and later removed to form a lower cavity 560, and a second sacrificial layer (not shown) is deposited over the electrode 506 to form the upper cavity 565. As shown in FIG. 8D, the electrode 506 is deposited over the pre-patterned substrate 505 forming electrode strips on the top surface of the substrate 505, where the discontinuities in the electrode 506 are caused by deposition over the trenches 507.

As mentioned above, transparent pre-patterned substrates made from transparent materials, such as polymers, may be used to create an interferometric modulator similar to that shown in FIGS. 7A-7E. In such an interferometric modulator, as shown in FIG. 8E, unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the transparent pre-patterned substrate 580 transmits light and viewing takes place through the transparent pre-patterned substrate 580. The skilled artisan will understand that the process for making such an interferometric modulator is similar to the method described above with reference to FIGS. 8A-8C, but that the electrode structure would be reversed. The structure would be similar to that of FIGS. 7A-7E, but the first few patterning and etching steps to create the rows are eliminated by depositing the first layers in rows over the trenches 507.

As shown in FIG. 8E, the semi-reflective-ITO bilayer 530, 532 is deposited over the substrate 580 to form electrode strips. A dielectric layer 508 is deposited over the semi-reflective-ITO bilayer 530, 532. A first sacrificial layer (not shown) is then deposited and later removed to form a lower cavity 560. The movable electrode 506 is deposited in orthogonal strips over the first sacrificial layer. A second sacrificial layer (not shown) is deposited over the movable electrode 506 and later removed to form the upper cavity 565. As shown in FIG. 8E, the movable electrode 506 is in a collapsed state. To complete the structure, a deformable layer 570 is formed over the upper cavity 565.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. As will be recognized, the present invention may be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features may be used or practiced separately from others. 

1. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, comprising: a substrate including a top surface and a plurality of trenches formed in the top surface, the trenches being spaced from one another, wherein each of the trenches includes a sidewall having an upper end defining a boundary with the top surface of the substrate; a first electrode layer formed over the top surface of the substrate, wherein the first electrode layer is discontinuous at the trenches to thereby separate the first electrode layer into a plurality of portions, wherein the plurality of portions extend to horizontal positions of the boundaries defined by the trenches when viewed from above the substrate; and a second electrode formed over the first electrode, the second electrode being separated from the first electrode by a cavity.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the trenches extend substantially parallel to one another.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of portions comprise rows of first electrodes.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second electrode forms an elongated strip, and wherein the rows of first electrodes are orthogonal to the second electrode.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode layer comprises a first material, and wherein the device further comprises the first material on bottom surfaces of the trenches.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed of a substantially transparent material.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first electrode layer comprises a transparent electrode layer.
 8. The device of claim 7, further comprising an absorber layer adjacent the transparent electrode layer.
 9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a dielectric layer over the absorber layer and the transparent electrode layer.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises an at least partially reflective layer facing the cavity.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the trenches includes a reentrant profile.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is configured to be movable toward the first electrode layer.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity is smaller when the second electrode is moved toward the first electrode layer.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS device comprises an interferometric modulator.
 15. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, comprising a substrate having a top surface and a plurality of grooves formed in the top surface; a plurality of first electrode strips formed over the top surface of the substrate and electrically separated from one another by the grooves; and a second electrode formed over the first electrode strips and separated from the first electrode strips by cavities, wherein the first electrode strips comprise a conductive material, and wherein the device further comprises the conductive material in the grooves, the conductive material in the grooves being electrically separated from the first electrode strips by being recessed.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of grooves include bottom surfaces, and wherein the top surface of the substrate and the bottom surfaces of the grooves are formed of the same material as each other.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the substrate is formed of a composite material.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the substrate comprises multiple layers formed of materials different from one another.
 19. The device of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of dielectric strips, each of the dielectric strips being formed of a dielectric material over a respective one of the first electrode strips, wherein the device further comprises the dielectric material in the grooves, the dielectric material in the grooves being discontinuous from the dielectric strips.
 20. The device of claim 15, wherein the cavities comprise a plurality of air gaps defined between the first electrode strips and the second electrode.
 21. The device of claim 15, wherein the substrate is formed of a substantially transparent material, wherein each of the first electrode strips comprises a partially transparent layer, and wherein the second electrode comprises an at least partially reflective layer.
 22. The device of claim 15, wherein the substrate is formed of an opaque material, wherein each of the first electrode strips comprises an at least partially reflective layer, and wherein the second electrode comprises a partially transparent layer.
 23. The device of claim 15, wherein the second electrode is configured to be movable toward the first electrode strips.
 24. The device of claim 15, further comprising a semi-reflective layer formed over the second electrode and separated from the second electrode by a second cavity.
 25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a transparent layer formed over the semi-reflective layer.
 26. The device of claim 15, wherein the MEMS device comprises an interferometric modulator. 